A matter of wear and tear…
The socks, today
Not long after learning to knit I decided that I fancied making a pair of socks for Craig, my other half. They seemed to symbolise something old fashioned and intimate by way of affection. Nothing showy that I’d hope that others would see on him and remark on, but rather just something that he would enjoy the idea and comfort of. Two things delayed me in turning this idea into an actual pair of socks:
- I am a wuss, and the shape of them and the words ’short rows’ and ‘turning the heel’ all sounded terribly complicated, and
- I kept on reading terribly sad posts on the Ravelry boards where people came to sob in public over their beautiful new socks returning from the debut trip to the shops with big holes or the heels worn right through to mere threads.
The idea of spending the money on a skein of yarn (or two) to make a pair of socks at a price that would buy about 15 pairs of socks at a supermarket just to enjoy them for a single day before they started to disintegrate made me wince.
when I finally cast these fears aside and decided that there must be a reason why so many people enjoyed making socks and so I should give it a go anyway I knew that I would have to revisit the socks after a number of wears and washes to asses if they were worth the money and the bother.
The picture at the top right of the post is the socks today. The fit is pretty much as they were when they were first completed. They have been machine washed a few times on a 40°c normal wash, and do not seem any worse for wear because of it. To my immense relief there appear to be no holes and no ends working loose as far as I can see after a close inspection. There is a bit of pilling at the back of the heel, which I suppose is to be expected as these socks have now had at least 14-18 outings in Craig’s various boots, shoes and trainers.
a fair degree of sock abuse has taken place, but they remain strong
When I went to London for a couple of weeks and Craig proudly announced that he had worn the socks I made him every day whilst I was away I thought a) they must reek, and b) they must be in tatters. Luckily I was (mostly) wrong on both counts. They had been washed at least a couple of times and left to dry (on the sock blockers, even) overnight, fresh for the next day. When I asked how well they were holding up Craig said he didn’t know, he hadn’t looked. This made me nervous of the state they’d be in, but I was pleasantly surprised. Apart from some minor surface bobbling, and a slight halo to the yarn, they were pretty much in the state I had first given them to him in.
Craig says he loves his socks and that they are the best socks he has ever owned. I feel so buoyed by this and the fact that they haven’t fallen apart within the first hour of putting them on that I shall make some more. Hopefully they’ll allow another portrait in a few months time!
minor bobbling - just a sign that they have been loved
